Globemaster Alliums - My Favourite Ornamental Onion

I’ve already hinted that I love giant plants and huge ornamental onions are right up there on my list of fave plants. Allium ‘Globemaster’ is my favourite variety of the ones I’ve tried. They are a consistent performer with extra large bloom heads that are well proportioned to thier height.

globemaster allium, the disco ball of flowers Photo
globemaster allium, the disco ball of flowers, originally uploaded by this is emily.

Fall is approaching and that’s the time to plant alliums if you want the to show up next year in early summer. Purple is the most common colour for alliums but a few of the many varieties come in pink, white and even blue or yellow. (more…)

Dramatic Water Lily Pad Picture

Nenuphar de l'ile Maurice Gardening Picture
Nenuphar de l’ile Maurice, originally uploaded by greg..!.

I’m not sure if these lily-pad-like water plants are a type of water lily or if they are some other exotic water plant but the effect is dramatic and I love it. Trying to describe it in words has me realizing the limits of my water gardening knowledge. What do you call the foliage on water garden plants?

Van Nuys Japanese Garden

DSC_0227.JPG Gardening Picture
DSC_0227.JPG, originally uploaded by tranism.

If I’ve got it right this is a picture from “The Japanese Garden” - a public garden park in Van Nuys, California. I believe that is the Tea House you can see in the background across the extensive water portion of the gardens. I especially like the small islands. Very Zen.

Very Young Zen Master Gardener

Chase looking at the water Gardening Picture
Chase looking at the water, originally uploaded by ginthefer.

I came across this photo purely by accident and I love it! This young boy sitting on the stone slabs by a natural water garden setting immediately brought to mind the image of a young Zen master peacefully enjoying the moment and basking in the gardens around him.

Gunnera manicata - Giant Rhubarb Plant

Gunnera manicata Giant Rhubarb

It didn’t take me long after discovering an interest in gardening to grow a keen interest for giant plants and Gunnera manicata is what started it all. It’s not often a choice for the home gardener, but around Vancouver where I live the city parks department has planted giant rhubarb plants at several parks around the city. This one is situated right by the duck pond on Granville Island.

Gunnera manicata Giant Rhubarb Leaves

Gunnera manicata, or giant rhubarb, is an ornamental plant in the Gunneraceae family. The underside of the leaf and the whole stalk have spikes on them. The leaves of Gunnera grow to an impressive size. Leaves with diameters well in excess of four feet are commonplace. This plant grows best in damp conditions eg by the side of garden ponds.





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